UFC Fight Night 29 Play-by-Play: Ildemar Alcantara vs. Igor Araujo

Ildemar Alcantara vs. Igor Araujo

Round 1: Araujo lands a right hand and push kick and then dives in for a takedown, but Alcantara defends, pressing Araujo to the cage. They trade positions, Araujo hitting the mat briefly, before they separate and dance around the middle of the Octagon. Alcantara clinches and drives knees into Araujo’s thigh. They move off the cage, Alcantara with underhooks gets some space and drives a couple hard knees to the body of Araujo. Alcantara gets Araujo to the mat, Araujo sweeps, but Alcantara reverses back into Araujo’s full guard. Alcantara stands and lands a left hand, Araujo gets up, but Alcantara locks up a choke. They hit the mat, but Araujo somehow escapes the choke and starts working from Alcantara’s half guard. Alcantara gains full guard, but Araujo is working his ground and pound attack. MMAWeekly.com scores round one 10-9 for Alcantara.

Round 2: Alcantara stuffs a takedown attempt and lands a knee, but Araujo fires back with a punch that snaps Alcantara’s head back. They clinch up and Alcantara takes Araujo to the mat. Araujo goes after an omo plata. Alcantara is defending well, but Araujo transitions to a gogoplata. Alcantara escapes and stands, Araujo still back to the mat. Alcantara drops a couple punches that score, but then allows Araujo back to his feet. They trade some half-hearted kicks before Araujo rushes in with punches, but gets caught by Alcantara and then taken down, but Araujo reverses into Alcantara’s half guard and starts grounding and pounding. Araujo is pounding away on Alcantara’s ribs, stands in Alcantara’s guard and drops some more heavy leather to his head and finishes the round pounding away to the horn. MMAWeekly.com scores round two 10-9 for Araujo.

Round 3: Both men look a little tired, but Alcantara is flat-footed, while Araujo is bouncing around and moving with a little more pep in his step. Araujo shoots for a takedown, but Alcantara sprawls out. They clinch up, Araujo tripping Alcantara to the mat and going to work from inside Alcantara’s half guard, pounding the ribs and the side of Alcantara’s head. Alcantara goes for a heel hook, but Araujo spins and escapes the hold then continues his ground and pound attack. Alcantara tries to set up another heel hook, but eats several hammerfists for his efforts. Alcantara goes for another heel hook, but doesn’t have the proper control of Araujo’s body to gain the leverage he needs. Araujo, meanwhle, spins again and moves to mount, finishing the fight with a flurry of punches at the horn. MMAWeekly.com scores round three 10-9 and the fight 29-28 for Araujo.